Needing a small cheap AC unit that will cool a server room(a few switches and a server) that is about 5x10x8 or so. Is there ones that dont need a vent hose or anything like that? We dont have any windows or anything of the type to work with. If you could get me a link that would be great. preferably at most being $50-$300.

I have a closet that is 10 feet wide, 8 feet tall, and 3 feet deep. I have 5 HP Proliant servers, two modems, two monitors, an 8 port KVM, a 48 port switch, a wireless router, a wired router, a 16 camera security DVR, and 6 APC battery backups in it. I cool it with an LG 11,000 BTU portable with the hot air exhaust tube vented through the wall to the warehouse. Cools everything just fine. Per RichGK, while the tube itself does radiate some heat, the "5 to 10" ratio mentioned is a bit high. The heat it puts off is radiant vs, forced air, so off the cuff I'd say the ratio is more like 1 to 20. Nothing to concern yourself with.

The unit costs me $299 at Home Depot and it's on its second year. The only downside is that, thanks to its electronic controls, in a power outage, it doesn't turn itself back on like the servers do. I have a temperature @lert USB temp sensor in there to let me know if there's a problem. Got it on sale for $99.

However, given your heat load vs. air space, I would vote for passive cooling if you can. You have 400 CF of airspace, 100 more than I do, but only about 1/6-1/4 the heating load, depending on what server you have. Try putting vents in the lower and upper portions of the door. Even better if you can put a vent in the wall above the door. Hot air will naturally vent out the top ones, and pull cool air in through the bottom. Convectional physics at its finest.

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Could you install a window unit in the wall? We have a dripless unit in one of our equipment rooms that is installed in the wall with the outside part in a warehouse. Works very well and was less than $300.

Albert E. and the physics department will require some sort of hose or penetration between the inside of the room and another area. A/C's 'transfer' heat from one area to another, so you'll need a 'hot area' to send the heat.

How about something more passive? Could you replace the door with a louvered door?

I have a closet that is 10 feet wide, 8 feet tall, and 3 feet deep. I have 5 HP Proliant servers, two modems, two monitors, an 8 port KVM, a 48 port switch, a wireless router, a wired router, a 16 camera security DVR, and 6 APC battery backups in it. I cool it with an LG 11,000 BTU portable with the hot air exhaust tube vented through the wall to the warehouse. Cools everything just fine. Per RichGK, while the tube itself does radiate some heat, the "5 to 10" ratio mentioned is a bit high. The heat it puts off is radiant vs, forced air, so off the cuff I'd say the ratio is more like 1 to 20. Nothing to concern yourself with.

The unit costs me $299 at Home Depot and it's on its second year. The only downside is that, thanks to its electronic controls, in a power outage, it doesn't turn itself back on like the servers do. I have a temperature @lert USB temp sensor in there to let me know if there's a problem. Got it on sale for $99.

However, given your heat load vs. air space, I would vote for passive cooling if you can. You have 400 CF of airspace, 100 more than I do, but only about 1/6-1/4 the heating load, depending on what server you have. Try putting vents in the lower and upper portions of the door. Even better if you can put a vent in the wall above the door. Hot air will naturally vent out the top ones, and pull cool air in through the bottom. Convectional physics at its finest.

Are you sure you need to add cooling? A lot of times in a small room you just need to increase air flow. Putting a vent in the door to the room (or under cutting the door) and an exhaust fan over the back of the rack removing the heat

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